Orlando Plastic Surgery Center, LLC

Transcription

1 Orlando Plastic Surgery Center, LLC Instructions for Facelift Patients Be sure to read these instructions carefully before your surgery, and follow them closely. BEFORE SURGERY Stop taking the following medications as soon as possible before surgery (preferably two weeks) and do not use them for two weeks after: Aspirin & ibuprofen products Bayer Excedrin Anacin St. Joseph s Aleve (Naproxyn) Motrin Advil If you are taking a prescription drug which contains aspirin, please ask the prescribing physician if there is a suitable alternative. Blood thinners such as Coumadin (warfarin) Anti-Inflammatory drugs such as: Celebrex Naproxyn Voltaren Relafen Supplements: Ephedrine Fish Oil Vitamin C Vitamin E Melatonin Garlic Ginger St. John s Wort Ginseng Kavakava Echinacea Herbal Tea Ginkgo Biloba Please contact our office if you have any questions about your medications. If you smoke, please stop one month before surgery and refrain from smoking one month after surgery to reduce the risk of complications. Smoking interferes with healing. Surgery cannot be performed unless you stop smoking. Have all of your prescriptions filled before surgery. Dr. Pope typically prescribes: Keflex (Ceflexin) Three times a day for seven days Antibiotic Hydrocodone/Acetaminophen Every four to six hours, as needed Pain control In addition, we recommend that you have Colace, an over-the-counter drug used for constipation, available in case it s needed. Colace should be taken twice a day for seven days, and you may want to begin taking it the day before surgery. ON THE DAY/EVENING BEFORE SURGERY Do NOT eat or drink after midnight the day before your surgery (unless otherwise instructed.) This includes water, candy, mints and gum. Arrange for a responsible adult age 18 or older to pick you up, take you home and remain with

2 you for the first 24 hours. For your safety, your surgery may be canceled if these arrangements are not made. Shower the night before and the morning of surgery with antibiotic soap (Dial, for example). ON THE DAY OF SURGERY Leave all valuables at home (money, credit cards, jewelry, etc.) Remove all make-up and nail polish. Do not use body lotions, perfumes or deodorant. If you wear dentures, glasses or contact lenses, you may need to remove them before surgery. Please bring the necessary items to store them. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and low-heeled shoes. AFTER SURGERY Return home and remain in bed for 24 hours. Have someone assist you to the bathroom during this time. An adult must remain with you for the first 24 hours after you are discharged from OASIS. You may have liquids as desired and tolerated the first afternoon and/or night. A soft diet is suggested for the next two days. Do not have any hot liquids for 72 hours. To avoid excessive facial movement and nausea, a bland diet is advised. Take the prescribed pain medication as needed. Do not take pain medication on an empty stomach. Do not drive or drink alcohol while on medication. Dr. Pope will examine you a week after surgery, but is always available if you have any questions. If you live outside Orlando, please make arrangements to stay within a two-hour drive of our office for the first week after surgery. Complications can occur within the first few weeks of your recovery. Get more rest than usual. This will help speed your recovery. Sleep on your back, with your head slightly elevated, for the first week after surgery to minimize swelling. You have been provided with an incentive spirometer (IS) device that you should use 10 times an hour while awake. This helps expand your lungs after surgery and prevent pneumonia. DO NOT SMOKE for at least four weeks following surgery. Nicotine causes constriction of the tiny blood vessels in your skin, and smoking soon after surgery can cause significant delay in wound healing and even skin scabbing or skin loss. Avoid the use of aspirin or products that contain aspirin for two weeks. Aspirin thins the blood and can lead to bleeding under facial skin. Activities Contact our office immediately if you develop any sudden pain, swelling or fever. Do not drive for one week after surgery, or while on pain medication. Avoid strenuous activity and getting overheated for two weeks. Avoid sun exposure for three weeks, and be sure to wear a sunscreen when in the sun. It is important to protect your scars

3 from sun exposure for at least three months after surgery. Sunburned scars will not fade well. Incision care You may shower 48 hours after surgery, with assistance. It may be helpful to wear undergarments (or a necktie) to which you may clip (safety pin) your drains. Keep steri-strips in place. They will fall off on their own with normal showering. You may trim the ends of the steri-strips as they start to peel. Skin glue is in place that will fall off on its own with normal showering. After two weeks, apply Vaseline to all incisions twice daily with a clean fingertip or Q-tip. Avoid other ointments or lotions during the first month of healing. Sutures or staples support wounds until sufficient healing occurs. Some slight redness around the individual sutures is common, but we should be notified if the redness extends along the entire line of incision, or if the suture line becomes tender and swollen. These may be early signs of infection and antibiotics will be needed. Keep incisions clean and inspect them daily for signs of infection (redness or drainage). After four to six weeks, Dr. Pope will instruct you on scar massage techniques, and may prescribe silicone gel for scar treatment. Avoid exposing scars to the sun for at least 12 months. Always use a strong sunblock and keep incisions covered, if sun exposure is unavoidable (SPF 30 or greater). Appearance All wounds, whether surgical or accidental, heal by scar tissue formation. While we take great care to make the scars virtually imperceptible, this process takes several months, so please be patient. Scars can be reddened for up to six months, and then they will fade and soften. The scar will extend from near one hipbone to the other, low on the abdomen. Some bruising is expected after your procedure, but the degree varies from patient to patient. Bruising may be noted in he groin region, and swelling can occur in the genital area. Cold washcloth compresses may be helpful to improve comfort. What to Expect Swelling and discoloration are expected. Excessive or uneven swelling, however, should be reported to the office. Pain on one side of the face not relieved by medication should also be reported. Wash your face daily with a mild soap and water, and then apply a thin coat of Polysporin or Bacitracin ointment to the suture and staple lines. You may shampoo your hair on the first post-operative day with a mild shampoo. Avoid the use of hot air dryers. Areas of the scalp may be numb and could be burned. Maximum discomfort will occur the first few days. Pain after surgery is usually mild and easily controlled by the prescription medication you were given, and by ice compresses. If these measures are not effective, please call us. You may feel tired for several weeks or months, but particularly drowsy in the first few days, due to the expected effects of anesthesia. It is not unusual after surgery to feel weak, have palpitations, break out in cold sweats, or get dizzy. This gradually disappears without medication.

4 Your body temperature may rise to slightly over 100 degrees after surgery because patients sometimes drink less water than usual. If it persists after drinking liberal amounts of fluids, call us. Please do not try to estimate your temperature; you must use a thermometer. It is common to feel slightly depressed after surgery. Remember that swelling and discoloration are only temporary. It is best to adopt a positive attitude, occupy yourself with the details of postoperative care, and divert your mind by making plans to resume normal living as soon as possible. Drugs may worsen the depression. DO NOT: Injure the operated area; be careful of small children, pets and restless bed mates. Stoop over, strain, or do anything to make the blood rush to your head for 24 hours after being discharged. Remove the dressing unless instructed to do so. You should remove the dressing (gauze and tape) before taking a shower. Compare your progress with other patients; everyone heals differently. Smoke or drink excessively. Pick at the operated area if it itches; we ll give you a medication for itching if necessary. Follow-up care Dr. Pope will examine you on the night of your surgery, and the following morning to change your dressing. Your next post-op visit will be five to seven days after surgery. Drains will be removed in the office when the output is less than 30ml for two consecutive days, usually within 10 days. All sutures are absorbable and do not require removal. When to call If you have increased swelling or bruising. If swelling and redness persist after a few days. If you have increased redness along the incision. If you have severe or increased pain not relieved by medication. If you have any side effects from your medications, such as rash, nausea, headache or vomiting. If you have an oral temperature over degrees. If you have any yellowish or greenish drainage from the incisions or notice a foul odor. If you have bleeding from the incision that is difficult to control with light pressure. If you have any problems or concerns related to your surgery that we haven t discussed or that have not been covered in these instructions, please call or our office at your convenience. We are always here to help. Acknowledgement

5 I have received the above instructions; I understand them and agree to follow them.